Component mounting apparatus with improved terminal strip means



Jan 23, 1968 E. KITZMILLER ETAL 3,365,619

COMPONENT MOUNTING APPARATUS WITH IMPROVED TERMINAL STRIP MEANS FiledOct. 23, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS ED WARD K/TzM/LLH? W P05518 7JOHNS N VQAM E. HOV/VA/V/AA/ 1968 I E. KITZMILLER ETAL 3,365,619

COMPONENT MOUNTING APPARATUS WITH IMPROVED TERMINAL STRIP MEANS Fil'edOct. 23, 1965 1 V 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 74 mlm v 7 INVENTORS E0 WARD /TzMILLE? W ROBE/P7 JOHNS 7'0 VQAM E-f/O V/VAN/A N 3 1968 E. KITZMILLERETAL. 3,365,619

, COMPONENT MOUNTING APPARATUS WITH IMPROVED TERMINAL STRIP MEANS Filed00c. 25, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 lEO.

- assays 9 I iifii 1 96 I I 9 E ml E INVENTORS VPAM E1 HOV/VA V/A/VUnited States ABSC'I OF THE DISCLOSURE A component mounting structurefor magnetic cores and the like. The structure includes a conductivebase plate on which a plurality of cores can be secured in a rectangularmatrix arrangement. A conductive integral frame essentially comprised ofone or more comb structures is provided. Each comb structure iscomprised of a plurality of teeth or terminals extending from a backbar. The free ends of the terminals are physically adhered to andelectrically insulated from the base plate. The terminals in each combstructure are provided with aligned portions having a reducedcross-section so as to form a score line along which the comb structurecan be easily broken to remove the back bar and leave the terminalsextending from the base plate.

This invention relates both to a mounting apparatus for magnetic coresand the like and to a method of fabricating such an apparatus.

Significant advances have been made in recent years in reducing the sizeof various components employed in modern electronic systems, such asdigital computers. Although the miniaturization of such components hasalleviated many problems, it has also created many other fabrication andpackaging problems. For example, in the fabrication of the magnetic corememories comprised of many closely packed cores, each on the order of 20mils for example, it is usually very difiicult to thread conductorsthrough the cores and satisfactorily connect such conductors to otherconductors. Of course, the prior art is replete with different types ofcore mounting devices but many of these devices become unsuitable as therequired core density increases.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention toprovide an improved apparatus for mounting magnetic cores and the like,together with a method of fabricating such an apparatus.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a base plateis provided on which a plurality of cores can be secured in arectangular matrix arrangement, for example. An integral frameessentially comprised of one or more comb structures is provided. Eachcomb structure is comprised of a plurality of teeth or terminalsextending from a back bar. The free ends of the terminals are physicallyadhered to the base plate. The terminals in each comb structure are allprovided with aligned portions having a reduced cross-section so as toform a score line along which the comb structure can be easily broken toremove the back bar and leave the terminals extending from the baseplate.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, guidemeans are provided on each terminal for facilitating the connection of aconductor thereto.

In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention,first and second score lines are provided on the terminals to permit theback bar to be broken initially along. the first line to thereby leavelong terminals which are useful for test purposes and subsequently alongthe ice second line to shorten the terminals for permanent installation.

In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, thebase plates are for-med of a material having good thermal and electricalconductivity characteristics. The base plates when employed in a stackassembly are preferably connected to spacer elements which are formed ofa material also having good thermal and electrical conductivitycharacteristics. Therefore, a convenient electrical ground path isprovided. In addition, a good thermal path is provided which reduces theeffects of temperature variations on the stack.

In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, thespacer elements are formed so as to tightly nest in one another toprevent any relative lateral movement which would otherwise occur whenthe stack is subjected to vibration.

In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, acomb structure is employed to interconnect aligned terminals in adjacentplanes in the stack.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of this inventionare set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The inventionitself will best be understood from the following description when readin connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a core memory mounting apparatusconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a base plate forming part of the mountingapparatus of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane 33 ofFIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view illustrating a terminal frame employed in theapparatus of FIGURE 1 superposed on and adhered to the base plate ofFIGURES 2 and 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged plan view illustrating in detail one corner ofthe terminal frame of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the plane 66 ofFIGURE 4 illustrating the manner in which the terminal frame is adheredto the base plate;

FIGURE 7 is a partial perspective view illustrating the manner in whichthe terminals can be connected to circuit boards in accordance with theteachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which a stackcan be constructed employing devices constructed in accordance with theteachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the manner in whicha spacer element is employed to interconnect adjacent devices in thestack of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view illustrating two techniques forinterconnecting spaced superposed terminals which extend from the stackof FIGURE 8; and

FIGURE 11 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention in which aterminal strip incorporating two score lines is provided.

Attention is now called to FIGURE 1 which illustrates a perspective viewof a mounting device or board 10 constructed in accordance with thepresent invention which can be used for example to carry components suchas magnetic cores 12. Usually, the cores 12 are arranged in arectangular matrix and are adhered to the top and bottom surfaces of abase plate 14. The base plate 14 in FIGURE 1 is illustrated as beingsubstantially rectangular, thus defining four sides 16, 18, 20, and 22.

A plurality of spaced terminals 24 project outwardly from each of thebase plate sides substantially in alignment with the top and bottom baseplate surfaces. Each terminal 24 is intended to be aligned with either arow or column of the core matrix adhered to the base plate 14. As willbe seen in greater detail hereinafter, each of the terminals 24 isintended to be connected to a conductor 25 which threads all of thecores in the row or column corresponding to that terminal.

The boards 10 have apertures 26 defined therein, preferably at eachcorner thereof. Rods are adapted to be projected through alignedapertures 26 in different boards in a manner to be described foraligning the boards and holding them together to form a stack assembly(FIG- URE 8). Prior to considering any further functionalcharacteristics of the mounting board 10 of FIGURE 1, the constructionof the board will be described and for that purpose, reference will nowbe made to FIGURES 2 through 6.

FIGURES 2 and 3 illustrate in detail the base plate 14 which is providedwith a top surface 2-8 and a bottom surface 30. Projecting from each ofthe sides of the base plate 14 is a flange 32 which preferably extendsabout the full perimeter of the base plate. For reasons to be discussedin greater detail hereinafter, the base plate 14 and flange 32 arepreferably integrally formed of a material such as aluminum having goodelectrical and thermal conductivity characteristics. Apertures 33 areformed in the flange 32 adjacent each corner of the base plate 14.

Adhesive material 34 is deposited on the upper and lower surfaces of theflange 32. The adhesive material 34 is preferably formed of a hightemperature epoxy resin which is preformed into strips. However, manydifferent types of adhesives can be used in the intended application andthere is no intention here to restrict the characteristics of theadhesive 34.

As previously noted, magnetic cores 12 are adapted to be mounted on bothsurfaces 28 and 30 of the base plate 14 in the form of a rectangularmatrix. It is also intended that a different terminal be provided foreach row and column of the matrix to which a conductor 25 threadedthrough the rows or columns can be connected. In accordance with thepresent invention and as is shown in detail in FIGURES 4 and 5, anintegral frame 36 is provided which conforms generally to the shape ofthe base plate 14. That is, the frame 36 is rectangular like the baseplate 14 and is essentially comprised of four comb structures 38, 40,42, and 44 whose relative orientation is the same as that of the sides16, 18, 20, and 22 of the base plate 14. Each comb structure iscomprised of a back bar 46 from which extends a plurality of spaced andaligned teeth or terminals 48. The entire frame 36 is formed of aconductive material by any suitable process such as stamping or etching.The frame can, for example, be formed of nickel, a beryllium copperalloy, at Phosphor bronze alloy, or other suitable materials.

End 50 of each of the terminals 48 is formed integral with the back bar46. End 52 of each of the terminals 48, remote from the back bar 46, isfree. Each of the terminals 48 includes a portion 54 of reducedcross-section. The portions 54 on all of the terminals in each combstructure are aligned to form a score or break away line 56.

Adjacent the free end 52 of each of the terminals 48, first and secondnarrow guide depressions 58 and 60 are provided separated by a land 62.A conductor 64 is adapted to be seated in the depression 58 projectingon to the land 62 to which it can be connected by soldering or weldingas shown at 66. The conductor 64 can thereby be electrically connectedto a second conductor (not shown) which is received within thedepression 68 and soldered or welded to the land 62 of the same terminal48.

As previously noted, the frame 36 is integrally formed of a plurality ofcomb structures. An apertured element 68 is provided at each corner ofthe frame thus forming part of and interconnecting adjacent combstructures. More particularly, the elements 68 are integrally formedwith the back bars of two adjacent comb structures. Thus, in FIGURE theelement 68 is formed integral with the back bar 46 of comb structures 38and 44. A line of re- 4 duced cross-section 70 is defined between theelements 68 and the back bars 46 from which they extend. The lines 78are aligned with the score lines 54 defined in the terminals 48.

Each of the elements 68 defines an aperture 72 therein. In constructingthe board 10 of FIGURE 1, the frame 36 is placed on the base plate 14 sothat the free ends 52 0f the terminals 48 engage the adhesive 34 and areretained thereon. The adhesive 34 insulates the terminals 48 from thebase plate 14. Each of the apertures 72 defined in the elements 68should be aligned with the apertures 33 delined in the base plate flange32. Depending upon the type of adhesive 34 employed, it may be necessaryto subject the composite structure shown in FIGURES 4 and 6 consistingof the base plate 14 and frames 36 adhered adjacent both sides thereof,to heat and pressure. In any event, once the terminals 48 are adequatelyadhered to the adhesive 34, the back bars 46 can be broken away from theterminals 48 along the score lines 54 merely by bending the back bar 46about the line 54. As a consequence of severing the back bars 46 fromthe terminals 48, the terminals 48 are left on the adhesive 34 withportions thereof extending beyond the extremities of flange 32. Thus,one end of the terminals 34 can be connected to conductors (e.g.conductors 64) threaded through the core rows and columns while thesecond end can be connected to other external conductors or otherprojecting terminals. It should be appreciated that by employing theapparatus and method discussed in FIGURES 2 through 6, it is possible toeasily provide many parallel terminals on the base plate 14 which areaccurately positioned with respect to each other and to the base plate.It should further be appreciated that by utilizing the apparatus andtechnique disclosed, the terminals 48 are provided on the base plate 14much more easily and at a substantially lower cost than would bepossible if the terminals were to be handled individually.

Attention is now called to FIGURE 7 which illustrates that the generaltechnique of the invention can be employed to connect terminals tootherwise reasonably conventional circuit boards. More particularly, acircuit board 74 can be provided having pads 75 formed thereon.Terminals 76 can be connected to the pads either by soldering orwelding. The terminals 76 are preferably all initially connected to theboard prior to breaking away the back ba-r therefrom along a line 77.The circuit board 74 can be used in an assembly stack 78 (FIGURE 8) for,for example, carrying diode decoding circuits.

Attention is now called to FIGURE 8 which shows a completed stackassembly which includes a pair of end compression members 80. Adjacentthe end compression members 80 are the previously-mentioned circuitboards 74 which carry circuits necessary to the operation of the corememory. A pair of end stiffening plates 82 can be provided adjacent thecircuit boards 74. Spacer boards 84 are preferably provided between thestiffening plates 82. One or more memory plane boards are disposedbetween the spacer plates 84.

The individual members of the stack 78 of FIGURE 8 are all provided withaligned apertures 86. Received in each of the apertures is a spacerelement 88 (FIGURE 9) which has a central portion 90 which conforms toand is preferably force fitted into the aperture 86 (aperture 33 of baseplate 14). The spacer element 88 is provided with an enlarged upperflange 92 defining a shoulder 94 adapted to engage the top surface ofthe plate or board in which it is inserted. A smaller plug portion 96 isprovided 0n the lower end of each spacer element 88. Each of the upperflange portions 92 is provided with a receptacle 98 for receiving intight nesting relationship the plug portion 96 from a spacer elementdisposed in an aperture in an adjacent plate or board.

All of the spacer elements 88 are provided with a central opening 1%adapted to receive a rod 102 there through. The rod 102 is preferablyterminally threaded to engage a nut 103 which clamps the various spacerelements 88 together. By nesting the lower plug portion 96 in thereceptacles 98, the plates in the assembly stack 78 are prevented fromlateral movement relative to one another which would otherwise occurWhen the stack assembly is subjected to vibration. It should be notedthat as a consequence of the spacer elements being force fitted into theapertures in the boards and plates, there will be intimate contacttherebetween thus providing high conductivity electrical and thermalpaths. The rod 102 is in turn intimately coupled to the spacer elementsand thus any temperature variations will be well distributed throughoutthe stack 78 thereby minimizing any adverse efiect such variations mightotherwise have.

From FIGURE 8, it should be apparent that the resulting .stack providesa plurality of vertically aligned terminals projecting from the circuitboards 74 and mounting boards 10. FIGURE illustrates two techniques forinterconnecting these terminals. In accordance with the first technique,terminals 104 and 106 are bent together and soldered at 108 at theextreme end thereof. In accordance with a second and preferred techniquefor interconnecting the aligned terminals, a connector strip 110 isprovided which is comprised of a back bar 112 and a plurality of spacedconnector bars 114. Each of the connector bars 114 is intended to bealigned with a pair of vertically spaced terminals, e.g. 116 and 118.The connector bar 114 is then soldered to the terminals 116 and 118 toform a connection thereacross. The back bar 112 can then be broken awayfrom the connector bars 114 along a score line 120.

Attention is now drawn to FIGURE 11 which shows an alternativeembodiment of the invention in which a comb structure 121 is providedincluding terminals 122 projecting from a back bar 124. The terminals122 are formed of two sections 126 and 128. A score line 130 is providedin the first sections 126 which are fanned out. A second score line 132separates sections 126 and 128. The comb structure 121 can form part ofa frame similar to frame 36 of FIGURE 4 previously discussed. When theback bar 124 is broken away along line 130 however, after the free endsof terminals 122 are adhered to the base plate, fanned out sections 126will be exposed and be available for test purposes. After testing hasbeen completed, the sections 126 can be broken away along score line 132to thus leave only terminal sections 128 in the permanent installation.

From the foregoing, it should be appreciated that an apparatus andfabrication method therefor has been shown herein for mounting magneticcores and the like so as to enable a plurality of terminals to be easilyand accurately provided. Although a preferred embodiment of theinvention has been shown herein, it should be appreciated that variousmodifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit andintended scope of the claims. Thus, for example, it is not essentialthat the guide depressions and land on each terminal be oriented exactlyas shown in FIGURE 6. Nor of course is it critical that the adhesive beapplied in performed strips as shown in FIGURE 3. Other similarmodifications should also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A mounting device for magnetic cores and the like comprising:

a flat base plate;

a terminal strip including a back bar having a plurality of alignedterminals each having a first free end and a second end secured to saidback bar;

said terminals having aligned reduced cross-sectional portions defininga line along which said terminal strip can be easily severed; and

means adhering said free ends of said terminals to said base plate.

2. A mounting device for magnetic cores and the like comprising:

a flat base plate having top and bottom surfaces and a plurality of sidesurfaces;

a flange extending outwardly from at least one of said side surfaces;

a terminal strip including a back bar having a plurality of alignedterminals each having a first free end and a second end secured to saidback bar;

said terminals having aligned reduced cross-sectional portions defininga line along which said terminal strip can be easily severed; and

adhering means adhering said free ends of said terminals to said flange.

3. A mounting device for magnetic cores and the like comprising:

a Hat base plate having top and bottom surfaces and a plurality of sidesurfaces;

a flange having top and bottom surfaces and extending outwardly from atleast one of said side surfaces;

first and second terminal strips each including a back bar having aplurality of aligned terminals, each having a first free end and asecond end secured to said back bar;

said terminals on each of said terminal strips having aligned reducedcross-sectional portions defining a line which said terminal strip canbe easily severed; and

means respectively adhering said free ends of said terminals on saidfirst and second terminal strips to said top and bottom surfaces of saidflange.

4. A mounting device for magnetic cores and the like comprising:

a fiat base plate having top and bottom surfaces and a plurality of sidesurfaces;

a flange having top and bottom surfaces and extending outwardly fromeach of said side surfaces;

an integral terminal frame comprised of a plurality of terminal stripsequal in number to said plurality of side surfaces;

each of said terminal strips including a back bar having a plurality ofaligned terminals each having a first free end and a second end securedto said back bar;

said terminals on each of said terminal strips having aligned reducedcross-sectional portions defining a line along which said terminal stripcan be easily severed; and

means adhering the free ends of each of said terminal strips to said topsurface of said flange.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein said base plate is formed of a materialhaving good electrical and thermal conductivity characteristics; andwherein said adhering means insulate said terminals from said baseplate.

6. The device of claim 2 wherein first and second conductor guide meansare provided on each of said terminals between said line and said freeends thereof.

7. The device of claim 2 wherein each of said terminals includes a landand first and second conductor guide depressions extending in oppositedirections therefrom between said line and said free ends.

8. The device of claim 2 wherein said terminal strip further includes aflat element extending from said back bar;

said flat element having a reduced cross-sectional position aligned withsaid line;

said base plate defining a guide aperture therein;

said flat element defining an aperture therein; and

means adhering said terminal strip to said base plate within said flatelement aperture aligned within said base plate aperture.

9. The device of claim 8 including a spacer element disposed in saidaligned apertures;

said spacer element including a central portion having a cross-sectionconforming to said aligned apertures, a larger upper flange portion, anda smaller lower plug portion;

said upper flange portion defining a receptacle adapted to receive alower plug portion and having a crosssection conforming thereto.

10. A mounting device for magnetic cores and the like comprising:

a flat base plate having top and bottom surfaces and aplurality of sidesurfaces;

a flange extending outwardly from at least one of said side surfaces;

a terminal strip including a back bar having a plurality of terminalsextending therefrom, each of said terminals being comprised of a firstsection aflixed to said back bar and a second section afixed to saidfirst section, said second sections being substantially straight and inalignment with one another and said first sections being fanned out soas to provide a greater spacing therebetween;

said terminals having a first set of aligned reduced cross-sectionalportions defining a first line between said first sections and said backbar and having a second set of aligned reduced cross-sectional portionsdefining a second line between said first and second sections;

each of said first sections having a free end; and

means adhering said free ends to said base plate.

11. A structure for supporting magnetic cores and the like comprising:

a first base plate having top and bottom surfaces and a plurality ofsides, said plate being formed of a material having good electrical andthermal conductivity characteristics;

a flange having flat top and bottom surfaces formed integrally with saidbase plate and extending outwardly from the sides thereof;

a plurality of elongated conductive terminals; and

insulating means adhering said terminals to at least one of said flangesurfaces with said terminals extending outwardly from said flangeparallel to one another.

12. The structure of claim 11 wherein each of said terminals includes aland and first and second conductor guide depressions extending inopposite directions therefrom.

13. A mounting structure for magnetic cores and the like including:

a plurality of base plates arranged on top of one another, each formedof a material having good electrical and thermal conductivitycharacteristics;

at least one aperture defined in each of said base plates in alignmentwith an aperture in each of the other base plates;

a spacer element disposed in each of said apertures,

each spacer element including a central portion having a cross-sectionconforming to each of said apertures, a larger upper flange portion, anda smaller lower plug portion;

each of said upper flange portions defining a receptacle adapted toreceive the lower plug portion of a spacer element disposed in anaperture in the base plate immediately above;

each of said spacer elements defining an opening therethrough; and

a rod projecting through said spacer element openings and urging saidspacer elements together.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein each of said spacer elements isformed of a material having goo-d electrical and thermal conductivitycharacteristics and is in contact with one of said base plates.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 1,117,164 7/1961 Germany.

ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

I. R. SCOTT, Assistant Examiner.

